FaunaHub

Agama (Agama agama)

ReptileLizardAfrica

Male red-headed rock agama (Agama agama) with a bright orange head and blue body.

Red-headed rock agama (Agama agama), male.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Agamas (genus Agama) are common, conspicuous lizards of Africa, often seen basking on rocks, walls, and buildings in the open sun. The red-headed rock agama (Agama agama), shown here, is a famous example: a dominant breeding male sports a brilliant orange or red head and a deep blue body, while females and non-dominant males are a duller brown. Remarkably, the male can switch his bright colours on and off depending on his mood, temperature, and social situation.

Agamas are social, day-active lizards, and males constantly signal their status with vigorous head-bobbing “push-ups” from prominent perches.

Note: “agama” covers many species; details here use the red-headed rock agama as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Agamas live across much of sub-Saharan Africa in savanna, scrub, rocky areas, and — very often — around human settlements, where walls, roofs, and rubble make ideal basking and lookout spots. The red-headed rock agama in particular thrives in towns and villages, making it one of the most frequently seen African lizards.

Diet

Agamas are mainly insectivores, eating ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and other small invertebrates, and larger individuals may take small vertebrates and some plant matter such as flowers and fruit. They often sit and watch from a perch, then dash out to snap up passing insects — and around people they readily eat insects attracted to buildings.

Behavior

Agama social life revolves around colour and display. A dominant male holds a territory with several females and shows off his vivid red-and-blue coloration, performing rapid head-bobbing and body “push-ups” to assert dominance and court females; if he loses a fight or feels threatened, his bright colours can quickly fade to drab brown. Agamas bask to warm up and are most colourful and active on hot, sunny days. They are agile and quick, darting into rock crevices to escape danger.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Agamas live closely and harmlessly alongside people across Africa, often brightening up walls and courtyards, and they help control insects around homes. They are common and adaptable, not generally of conservation concern, and are a familiar, welcome part of the African scene. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific details.

More photos of the agama

A female agama, more drab than the colourful male.

Rock agama (Agama sp.), female.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Agama

Why is the male agama so brightly coloured?
The dominant male's brilliant orange-red head and blue body are signals of status, used to defend his territory and attract females. Colour intensity reflects his mood, temperature, and social standing — a confident, dominant male in the hot sun is brightest, while a stressed or subordinate one turns drab brown.
Can agamas change colour?
Yes, to a degree. Dominant male red-headed rock agamas can switch their vivid red-and-blue coloration on and off depending on temperature, time of day, and social situation — flushing bright when displaying or dominant, and fading to brown when cool, stressed, or defeated. Females and non-dominant males stay mostly brown.
What do agamas eat?
Mainly insects — ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and other small invertebrates — with larger agamas sometimes taking small vertebrates and a little plant material. They often hunt by watching from a perch and dashing out to grab prey, and around buildings they feast on insects drawn to lights and walls.
Why do agamas do 'push-ups'?
The rapid head-bobbing and body push-up movements are territorial and courtship displays. A male performs them from a prominent perch to advertise his presence, warn off rival males, and signal to females. Combined with his bright colours, the push-ups make him highly conspicuous to other agamas.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.